Grunt (Roach)

Book Reviews
Covering these topics and more, Roach has done a fascinating job of portraying unexpected, creative sides of military science.
New York Post


A mirthful, informative peek behind the curtain of military science.
Washington Post


Roach...applies her tenacious reporting and quirky point of view to efforts by scientists to conquer some of the soldier’s worst enemies.
Seattle Times


Extremely likable…and quick with a quip….[Roach’s] skill is to draw out the good humor and honesty of both the subjects and practitioners of these white arts among the dark arts of war.
San Francisco Chronicle


Mary Roach is one of the best in the business of science writing...She takes readers on a tour of the scientists who attempt to conquer the panic, exhaustion, heat, and noise that plague modern soldiers.
Brooklyn Magazine


From the ever-illuminating author of Bonk and Stiff comes an examination of the science behind war. Even the tiniest minutiae count on the battlefield, and Roach leads us through her discoveries in her inimitable style.
Elle


Nobody does weird science quite like [Roach], and this time, she takes on war. Though all her books look at the human body in extreme situations (sex! space! death!), this isn’t simply a blood-drenched affair. Instead, Roach looks at the unexpected things that take place behind the scenes.
Wired


With compassion and dark humor, Roach delves into the world of military scientists and their drive to make combat more survivable for soldiers.... [This] book is not for the squeamish or those who envision war as a glorious enterprise; it is a captivating look at the lengths scientists go to in order to reduce the horrors of war.
Publishers Weekly


(Starred review.) [An] insightful look into the lives of soldiers—not the stories in the news but untold tales, such as how people on submarines sleep.... A must-read for fans of Roach and for those who relish learning about the secret histories of everyday things. —Cate Hirschbiel, Iwasaki Lib., Emerson Coll., Boston
Library Journal


(Starred review.) A rare literary bird, a best selling science writer...Roach avidly and impishly infiltrates the world of military science....Roach is exuberantly and imaginatively informative and irreverently funny, but she is also in awe of the accomplished and committed military people she meets.
Booklist


(Starred review.) [Roach] is mostly seeking laughs...work[ing] hard to find humor wherever she turns. When material runs thin, the author inserts breezy anecdotes...so readers who can tolerate the author's relentless flippancy will not regret the experience.
Kirkus Reviews